9 /10 1 Votes
7.9/10 IMDb Cinematography Jan Lindeström Running time 101 minutes Director Bo Widerberg Music director Giuseppe Torelli | 4/4 Roger Ebert Written by Bo Widerberg Edited by Wic Kjellin Initial release 26 December 1963 (Sweden) Screenplay Bo Widerberg Producer Waldemar Bergendahl | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Starring Thommy Berggren
Keve Hjelm Release date 26 December 1963 (1963-12-26) Cast Thommy Berggren, Keve Hjelm, Emy Storm, Ingvar Hirdwall, Christina Frambäck Similar Directed by Bo Widerberg, Working class movies, Dramas | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Raven's End (Swedish: Kvarteret Korpen) is a 1963 Swedish drama film directed by Bo Widerberg, about an aspiring working-class writer in Malmö. The story bears some similarities to Widerberg's own background, although he claimed it to be entirely fictional.
Contents
Plot
In the mid 1930s, Anders is dreaming about becoming a writer. His friend Sixten is dreaming about becoming a football player so he can go to Paris and meet prostitutes in fur. Anders' ambitions are supported by his girlfriend Elsie and his parents. His mother supports the family by doing laundry, while his father is unemployed and has a problem with alcohol and gambling.
Anders sends a script for a book he has written about the block they live in to a publisher in Stockholm. He is asked to come to Stockholm and discuss the book, which makes his father excited. But the publisher doesn't want to publish the book, and when Anders returns they all become very disappointed.
Elsie becomes pregnant with Anders' child. Anders seeks advice from his father, but the father is drunk and they end up fighting. The father blames his wife for all the misery they are suffering from, meaning it's all because he was humiliated by an affair she once had. The mother blames the father, meaning it was his violent behaviour that caused her infidelity.
Anders decides to leave his family, his pregnant girlfriend and all misery behind. He joins Sixten and they both travel to Stockholm.
Cast
Production
The film was shot on location in a run-down Malmö block that was soon to be demolished. Locals were used as extras to strengthen the feeling of authenticity.
Awards and nominations
At the 1st Guldbagge Awards Keve Hjelm was awarded the Guldbagge for Best Actor. The film was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. It was also entered into the official selection at the 1964 Cannes Film Festival, competing for the Palme d'Or.